Method and apparatus for freezing ice



B. F. KU

BAUGH 2,200,424

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FREEZING ICE Filed May 10, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet1 III "I 3/ a a u u i:

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B. F. KUBAUGH METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FREEZING ICE Filed May 10, 1938 2Sheets-Sheet} B. J? Xubauy]:

Patented May 14, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Benjamin a, Kubaugh,Louisville; Ky., minor to Henry Vogt Machine 00., Inc., Ionisville, Ky.,a corporation of Kentucky Application May 1c, 1938, Serial 1%. mm 12 cum62-164) This invention relates to ice making apparatus and has for itsgeneral object the provision of a process as well as means for freezingice masses of small thickness whereby the freezing can be with arefrigeration system having liquid and hot gaseous phases in which thefreezing is controlled to take place in the units alternately orsuccessively as the case may be, followed by alternate or successivethawing to break the adhesion of the ice to the walls of the freezingunits employing the hot gaseous refrigerant for the purpose.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the following descriptionof a preferred and practical embodiment of the invention proceeds.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of the followingspecification and throughout the several figures of which the samecharacters of reference have been used to designate identical parts:

Figure l is a front elevation of an ice freezing apparatus employing theprinciples of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the discharge ends ofcertain ice tubes in association with the shearing mechanism;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a refrigeration system inwhich the ice freezing units are intercalated, showing the valves in oneof their alternate positions;

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the valves in the other of theiralternate positions; and

Figure 6 is a. cross section through one of the column units.

The invention contemplates the freezing of ice in the form of long rodsor cylinders which are mechanically sheared off into small units orcubes. These are best frozen in pipes or tubes and each of the freezingunits l of which two are shown in the present invention comprises agroup or bundle of spaced tubes 2 enclosed within a shell or column 3.The upper ends of the tubes 2 open into the bottom of a water tank 4 towhich water is supplied from the pipe 5. The lower ends of the tubes 2extend through a plate 6 forming the bottom of the shell or column 3 andopen through apertures I in a shear plate 8 and corresponding apertures9 in a discharge plate In, the open ends of said tubes being above aninclined chute II which discharges into a tank l2. A pump l3 picks upwater from the tank [2 and delivers it to the tank 4 from which it runsdown through the tubes 2. It is within these tubes that the freezingtakes place. Make-up water is supplied to the tank l2 through a floatactuated valve M.

The interior of the shell 3 constitutes a refrigerant chamber withinwhich liquid refrigerant normally stands to the level IS in one of theshells, the level being visible through an appropriately positionedsight glass It. The mode of operation of the system as willappear issuch that when the liquid refrigerant is at the level [5 in one of theshells 3 it has been displaced from another shell.

The shell 3 therefore constitutes the evaporating unit of arefrigeration system which may be an absorption system or a compressionsystem, the latter type being illustrated by way of example, and which,as shown in Figure 4, comprises a compressor l1, condenser l8, receiverIS, the suction line 20 and the hot compressed gas conduit 2| whichleads from the compressor to the condenser. The shell 3 is provided witha liquid level control valve 22 of conventional construction throughwhich the evaporated liquid refrigerant is replenished. The shells 3 areconnected to the suction line 20 of the refrigeration system by amanifold 23 having valves 24 and 25 controlling the communication of thesuction line with either 35 of the shells 3. Said shells are alsoconnected to the hot compressed gas conduit 2! by means of a pipe 25having branches to each shell controlled by the valves 21 and 28. Theshells 3 are interconnected at their bottom by a pipe connection 29having a control valve 30.

In operation, it will be assumed that liquid refrigerant is in the lefthand shell 3 up to the level l5, that the control valve 30 is closedpreventing the liquid refrigerant from going into the right hand shell3, that the valve 24 is open placing the upper part of the left handshell 3 into operative communication with the suction line of therefrigeration system, that the valve 21 is closed. At this time the pumpI3 is pumping water past the open valve 3| into the left hand tank 4which water is running through the tubes 2 and finally gravitating intothe tank l2 being cooled by its passage through those, portions of thetubes 2 which are submerged by the liquid refrigerant below the levell5, and an ice film being formed on the walls of said tubes. This filmis permitted to freeze to the desired thickness forming hollow rods orcylinders of ice. Due to the fact that the water was circulating all thetime throughout the freezing process, there is no concentration ofimpurities toward the center or core so that the ice is frozen clear andtransparent throughout. The tubes may be of any cross sectional shape;they are here shown as circular. In any event they are of comparativelysmall cross section so that there is very little insulating resistanceof the ice to freezing all the way to the center of the tubes. Muchquicker freezing is thus accomplished than where blocks of large crosssection are to be frozen.

In that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, thefreezing operation is to be watched by an attendant and when thefreezing of the water within the tubes has been fully accomplished sothat no water will flow therethrough and there is a backing up of waterin the tanks 4, the water supply to the left hand ,tank 4 is cut off byclosing the valve 3i. The

- valve 22. In general, however, no make-up liqvalve 24 is also cut offclosing communication with the suction side of the compressor, the valve30 is turned on establishing communication betweenthe left and righthand shells 3 and the valve 21 is opened permitting high pressure hotgaseous refrigerant to enter the upper part of the left hand shell 3above the liquid level therein. This hot gas under pressure displacesthe liquid in the left hand shell 3 which liquid descends, passingthrough the pipe connection 29 backing up into the right hand shell 3until it stands at the liquid level l5, any make-up liquid beingsupplied through the liquid level control uid is required as the hot gasadmitted for thawing eventually becomes liquefied and produces a slightexcess of liquid.

The hot gaseous refrigerant now pervades the entire space within theleft hand shell 3, warming the tubes 2 within said shell and thawing thesurface of the ice cores within the tubes 2 freeing said cores fromadhesion to said tubes. The cores or rods of ice in the tubes of theleft hand tank descend gravitationally into the apertures I of the shearplate which are normally aligned with the tubes 2 and at least of equaldiameter thereto, saidcores resting upon the shoulders 32 of thedischarge plate iii, the apertures 9 of which are slightly off-setlaterally with respect to the bores of the tubes 2. The shear plate 8 ismoved laterally until its apertures l align with the apertures 9 in thedischarge plate. This lateral movement of the shear plate shears orbreaks off from the ice cores or rods those portions which occupy theapertures in the shear plate which portions are discharged through theapertures 9 in the discharge plate Ill. The shear plate reciprocatesback and forth from a position in which its apertures are in alignmentwith the tubes 2 into a position in which said apertures align with theapertures in the discharge plate. This reciprocation is effected by apitman 33 suitably pivoted at 34 and swinging under the influence of apower driven cam or eccentric 35.

Each time the aperture I aligns with the tubes 2, the ice core dropsgravitationally into said apertures for the full depth of the shearplate and each time the shear plate moves to the right as shown inFigure 3, those portions of the ice cores which are within the shearplate are sheared off and discharged. This action is permitted tocontinue until the ice cores are completely used up.

When the freezing in the rightward unit has been completed, as evidencedby the cessation of flow of water from the bottom of said unit into thetank l2, the operator reverses the positions of the several valves. Hefirst closes the valve 3| cutting of! the supply of water to the righthand tank 4, then he closes the valve 25 and opens the valve 24 shiftingthe suction line of the compressor from the right hand unit back to theleft hand unit. He closes the valve 21 and opens the valve 2!, also heopens the valve 30 in the bottom connection between the two tanks. Thehot compressed gas entering byway of the valve 24 forces the body ofliquid refrigerant through the right hand shell 3 downward through thevalve 30 and up into the shell 3 of the left hand unit I. When theliquid refrigerant is up to the level IS in the left hand unit, theattendant then closes the valve 30 and opens the water'valve 3!. Thefreezing period then recommences in the left hand unit while thawing istaking place in the right hand unit followed by the gravitationaldescent of the ice cores in the right hand unit into the shear plate andtheir severance into individual cylindrical pieces of ice.

It will be understood of course that automatic means may be devised toperform the various valve-reversing manipulations as described. Figures1 and 2 show that there is a baffle 36 which directs the ice units orcubes against the chute II. The lower portion of said chute is formed asa screen 31 which overlies a water trough 38 having a spout 39 directedinto the tank l2. There is a slight gap Iii between the lower end of thescreen 31 and the external cube discharge chute ll.

The water discharging from the bottoms of the tubes of the unit duringthe freezing period falls .upon the chute II and upon the baille 36, and

flows through the screen 31 into the trough 38 from which it dischargesby way of the spout 39 into the tank l2. The gap 40 prevents the waterflowing down the external chute H. The cubes fall upon the chute II andbaille36, slide over the screen 31, over the gap 30 into the externalchute ll from which they are discharged at a point external to the unitI.

While I have in the above description disclosed what I believe to bee.preferred and practical embodiment-of the invention, it will beunderstood to those skilled in theart that the specific details ofconstruction and the arrangement of parts as shown and described aremerely by way of example and not to be construed as limiting the scopeof the invention as defined in the appended claims. 7

What I claim is:

1. Ice freezing apparatus comprising a. pair of evaporators adapted tofunction in recurrent rotation, each comprising a. shell, said shellsbeing connected in multiple between the liquid and suction sides of arefrigeration system, and positioned to alternately receive liquidrefrigerant up to a predetermined normal level, each shell having abundle of water tubes passing therethrough opening in the top and bottomthereof, water-receiving means above said shells com- 'municating withthe open ends of said water tubes, means below said shells into whichwater either shell and excluded from the other for dis placing theliquid refrigerant from one to the other and thawing the ice bondbetween the ice cores and walls of the tubes of the bundle associatedwith the shell from .which the liquid refrigerant has been displaced,the open lower ends of said tubes permitting gravitational discharge ofthe ice cores from said tubes, a stop plate spaced from the loweropenings of said tubes determining the extent of protrusion of said icecores, and means for shearing the protruding portions of said ice cores.

2. Ice freezing apparatus comprising a pair of evaporators adapted tofunction in recurrent rotation, each comprising a shell, said shellsbeing connected in multiple between the liquid and suction sides of arefrigeration system, and positioned to receive liquid refrigerant up toa predetermined normal level, each shell having a bundle of open endedwater tubes passing therethrough opening in the top and bottom thereof,water-receiving means above said shells communicating with the ends ofsaid water tubes, means below said shells into which water dischargesfrom said tubes, a conduit from said discharge means to said receivingmeans, a pump in said conduit for circulating water through said tubes,valves for cutting water off and on with respect to said tube bundles,valve-controlled means for permitting the liquid refrigerant in saidshells to be displaced from one shell into the other, a conduitconnecting said shells above the normal liquid level therein with thatpart of the refrigeration system in which the refrigerant is in hotcompressed gas phase, means whereby the hot compressed gas can beadmitted into either shell and excluded from the other for displacingthe liquid refrigerant from one to the other and thawing the ice bondbetween the ice cores and walls of the tubes of the bundle associatedwith the shell from which the liquid refrigerant has been displaced, theopen lower ends of said tubes permitting gravitational discharge of theice cores from said tubes, a stop plate spaced from the lower openingsof said tubes determining the extent of protrusion of said ice cores,and means for shearing the protruding cores of said ice cores and movingthem to a discharge point.

3. Ice freezing apparatus comprising a pair of evaporators adapted tofunction in recurrent rotation, each comprising a shell, said shellsbeing connected in multiple between the liquid and suction sides of arefrigeration system, and positioned to receive liquid refrigerant up toa predetermined normal level, each shell having a bundle of open endedwater tubes passing therethrough opening in the top and bottom thereof,

water-receiving means above said shells communicating with the ends ofsaid water tubes, means below said shells into which water dischargesfrom said tubes, a conduit from said discharge means to said receivingmeans, a pump in said conduit for circulating water through said tubes,valves for cutting water off and on with respect to said tube bundles,valve-controlled means for permitting the liquid refrigerant in saidshells to be displaced from one shell into the other, a

conduit connecting said shells above the normal liquid level thereinwith that part of the refrigeration system in which the refrigerant isin hot compressed gas phase, means whereby the hot compressed gas can beadmitted into either shell and excluded from the other for displacingthe liquid refrigerant from one to the other and thawing the ice bondbetween the ice cores and walls of the tubes of the bundle associatedwith the shell from which the liquid refrigerant has been displaced, theopen lower ends of said tubes permitting gravitational discharge of theice cores from said tubes, a stop plate spaced from the lower openingsof said tubes determining the extent of protrusion of said ice cores,and a reciprocating shear plate for periodically shearing off protrudingportions of said ice cores and moving them to a discharge point.

4. Ice freezing apparatus comprising a pair of evaporators adapted tofunction in recurrent rotation, each comprising a shell, said shellsbeing connected in multiple between the liquid and suction sides of arefrigeration system, and positioned to receive liquid refrigerant up toa predetermined normal level, each shell having a bundle of open endedwater tubes passing therethrough opening in the top and bottom thereof,water-receiving means above said shells communicating with the ends ofsaid water tubes, means below said shells into which water dischargesi'rom said tubes, a conduit from said discharge means to said receivingmeans, a pump in said conduit for circulating water through said tubes,valves for cutting water off and on with respect to said tube bundles,valve-controlled means for permitting the liquid refrigerant in saidshells to be displaced from one shell into the other, a conduitconnecting said shells above the normal liquid level therein with thatpart of the refrigeration system in which the refrigerant is in hotcompressed gas phase, means whereby the hot compressed gas can beadmitted into either shell and excluded from the other for displacingthe liquid refrigerant from one to the other and thawing the ice bondbetween the ice cores and walls of the tubes of the bundle associatedwith the shell from which the liquid refrigerant has been displaced, theopen lower ends of said tubes permitting gravitational discharge of theice cores from said tubes, a stop plate spaced from the lower openingsof said tubes determining the extent of protrusion of said ice cores,said stop plate having discharge ports out of registry with the lowerends of the tubes, and a shear plate for periodically shearing off theprotruding portions of said ice cores and moving said portions intoregistry with the discharge ports in said stop plate.

5. Ice freezing apparatus comprising a pair of evaporators adapted tofunction in recurrent rotation, each comprising a shell, said shellsbeing connected in multiple between the liquid and suction sides of arefrigeration system, and positioned to receive liquid refrigerant up toa predetermined normal level, each shell having a bundle of open endedwater tubes passing therethrough opening in the top and bottom thereof,water-receiving means above said shells communicating with the ends ofsaid water tubes, means below said shells into which water dischargesfrom said tubes, valves for cutting water off and on with respect tosaid tube bundles, valve-controlled means for permitting the liquidrefrigerant in said shells to be displaced from one shell into theother, a conduit connecting said shells above the normal liquid leveltherein with that part of the refrigeration system in which therefrigerant is in hot compressed gas phase, means w? :reby the hotcompressed gas can be admitted into either shell and excluded from theother for displacing the liquid refrigerant from one to the other andthawing the ice bond between the ice cores and walls of the tubes of thebundle associated with the shell from which the liquid refrigerant hasbeen displaced, the open lower ends of said tubes permittinggravitational discharge of the ice cores from said tubes, a stop platespaced from the lower openings of said tubes determining the extent ofprotrusion of said ice cores, and a shear plate movable between thelower ends of said tubes and said stop plate having a thicknesssubstantially equal to the distance of said stop plate from the lowerends of said tubes and having apertures of a diameter as great as thatof the ice cores, said shear plate being adapted to be successivelyalined with said tubes and the ports in said stop plate forgravitationally receiving the lower ends of said ice cores, shearingthem and discharging them through the ports of said stop plate.

6. Ice freezing apparatus comprising a pair of evaporators adapted tofunction in recurrent rotation, each comprising a shell, said shellsbeing connected in multiple between the liquid and suction sides of arefrigeration system, and positioned to receive liquid refrigerant up toa predetermined normal level, each shell having a bundle of open endedwater tubes passing therethrough opening in the top and bottom thereof,water-receiving means above said shells communicating with the ends ofsaid water tubes; means below said shells into which water dischargesfrom said tubes, a conduit from said discharge means to said receivingmeans, a pump in said conduit for circulating water through said tubes,valves for cutting water ofi and on with respect to said tube bundles,valve-controlled.

means for permitting liquid refrigerant in said shells to be displacedfrom one shell into the other, a conduit connecting said shells abovethe normal liquid level therein with that part of the refrigerationsystem in which the refrigerant is in hot compressed gas phase, meanswhereby the hot compressed gas can be admitted into either shell andexcluded from the other for displacing the liquid refrigerant from oneto the other and thawing the ice bond between the ice cores and walls ofthe tubes of the bundle associated with the shell from which the. liquidrefrigerant has been displaced, a stop plate spaced from the bottomopenings of said tubes determining the extent of protrusion of said icecores, a shear plate between the lower ends of said tubes and said stopplate of a thickness substantially equal to the distance of said stopplate from. the lower ends of said tubes, having openings therethroughof a diameter as great as that of the ice cores, said shear plate beingadapted to be successively alined with said tubes and the ports in saidstop plate for gravitationally. receiving the protruding portions ofsaid ice cores shearing them from said ice cores and discharging themthrough the ports of said stop plate, and a separating chute beneathsaid stop plate and above said water discharge means permitting thepassage of the severed ice units to a final discharge point and thepassage of water through said separating chute into said water dischargemeans.

7. Method of freezing ice comprising bringing the liquid and hotcompressed gaseous phases of a refrigerant in a refrigeration systeminto heat exchanging relationship successively with two or more freezingchambers, in the order named, in recurrent rotation to circulatingcolumns of water in one of said freezing chambers, maintaining theliquid phase in heat exchanging relationship to said columns until saidcolumns are frozen forming ice cores, causing the hot compressed gaseousphase to displace the liquid refrigerant constituting said liquid phadefrom one freezing chamber to another, maintaining the hot gaseous phasein heat exchanging relationship to said ice cores until they are thawedfrom adherence with the walls of said freezing chambers, causing saidice cores to descend step by step for a predetermined distance at eachstep, and periodically cutting on from said ice cores and discharging,the ice units thus formed, the thawing and the cutting up of the icecores from one freezing chamber being accomplished during lt)? freezingperiod of the other freezing cham- 8. Ice freezing apparatus comprisinga pair of evaporator tanks adapted to function in recurrent rotation,connected in multiple between the liquid and suction sides of arefrigeration system and positioned to receive liquid refrigerant up toa determined normal level, a plurality of water conduits for eachevaporator tank in heat exchanging relation therewith, means forcirculating water in said conduits, valve-controlled means forpermitting the liquid refrigerant to be displaced from one evaporatortank into the other, a conduit connecting said shells above the normalliquid level therein with that part of the refrigeration system in whichthe refrigerant is in hot compressed gas phase, means whereby the hotcompressed gas can be admitted into either tank and excluded from theother for displacing the liquid refrigerant from one to the other andthawing the ice bond between the frozen water and walls of the waterconduits of the evaporator tank from which the liquid refrigerant hasbeen displaced, said conduits being open ended and so directed as topermit gravitational discharge of ice from said water conduits.

9. Ice freezing apparatus comprising a. pair of evaporators adapted tofunction in recurrent rotation, each comprising a shell, said shellsbeing connected in multiple between the liquid and suction sides of arefrigeration system, and positioned to receive liquid refrigerant up toa predetermined normal level, each shell having a bundle of open endedwater tubes passing therethrough opening in the top and bottom thereof,water tanks at the upper ends of said shells into which the upper endsof the water tubes open, reservoirs below said shells into which thewater discharges from said tubes, a conduit from said reservoirs to saidtanks, a pump in said conduit for delivering water to said tanks andcirculating said water through said tubes, valves for cutting water offand on with respect to said tube bundles, valve-controlled means forpermitting the liquid refrigerant in said shells to be displaced fromone shell into the other, a conduit connecting said shells above thenormal liquid level therein with that part of the refrigeration systemin which the refrigerant is in hot compressed gas phase, means wherebythe hot compressed gas can be admitted into either shell and excludedfrom the other for displacing the liquid refrigerant from one to theother and thawing the ice bond between the ice cores and walls of thetubes of the bundle associated with the shell from which the liquidrefrigerant has been displaced, the open lower ends of said tubespermitting the ice cores to discharge gravitationally from said tubes.

10. Ice freezing apparatus comprising a pair of evaporators adapted tofunction in recurrent rotation, each comprising a shell, said shellsbeing connected inlmultiple between the liquid and suetion sides of arefrigeration system, and positioned to receive liquid refrigerant up toa predetermined normal level, each shell having a bundle of open endedwater tubes passing therethrough opening through the top and bottomthereof, the upper openings of said tubes lying in a horizontal plane,water tanks at the upper ends of said shells into which the upper endsof said water tubes open, and into which tubes the water from said tanksoverflows, means below said shells into which water discharges from saidtubes, a conduit from said discharge means to said tanks, a pump in saidconduit for circulating water through said tubes, valves for cuttingwater off and on with respect to said tube bundles, valvecontrolledmeans for permitting the liquid refrigerant to be displaced from oneevaporator shell into the other, a conduit connecting said shells abovethe normal liquid level therein with that part of the refrigerationsystem in which the refrigerant is in hot compressed gas phase, meanswhereby the hot compressed gas can be admitted into either shell andexcluded from the other for displacing the liquid refrigerant from oneto the other, and thawing the ice bond between the ice cores and wallsof the tubes of the bundle associated with the shell from which theliquid refrigerant has been displaced, the open lower ends of said tubespermitting the ice cores to discharge gravitationally from said tubes.

11. Ice freezing apparatus comprising a pair of evaporators adapted tofunction in recurrent rotation, each comprising a shell, said shellsbeing connected in multiple between the liquid and suction sides of arefrigeration system, and positioned to receive liquid refrigerant up toa predetermined normal level, each shell having a bundle of open endedwater tubes passing therethrough, opening through the top and bottomthereof, a water tank at the upper end of each shell into which theupper ends of said water tubes open and into which tubes the water fromsaid tank overflows, means below said shells into which water dischargesfrom said tubes, a conduit from, said discharge means to said receivingmeans, a

,pump in said conduit for circulating water through said tubes, valvesfor cutting water off and on with respect to said tube bundles. afloatcontrolled water supply valve in communication with said dischargemeans for supplying make-up water, valve-controlled means for permittingthe liquid refrigerant to be displaced from one evaporator shell intothe other, a conduit connecting said shells above the normal liquidlevel therein with that part-of the refrigeration system in which therefrigerant is in hot-compressed gas phase, and means whereby the hotcompressed gas can be admitted into either shell and excluded from theother for displacing the liquid refrigerant from one 'to the other andthawing the ice bond between the ice cores and walls of the tubes of thebundle associated with the shell from which the liquid refrigerant hasbeen displaced.

12. Ice freezing apparatus comprising a pair of evaporators adapted tofunction in recurrent rotation, each comprising a shell, said shellsbeing connected in multiple between the liquid and suction sides of arefrigeration system, and positioned to receive liquid refrigerant up toa predetermined normal level, each shell having a bundle of open endedwater tubes passing therethrough, opening through the top and bottomthereof, water-receiving means at the upper ends of said shells intowhich the upper ends of said water tubes open, and into which tubes thewater overflows, means below said shells into which water dischargesfrom said tubes, a conduit from said discharge means to said receivingmeans, a pump in said conduit for circulating water through said tubes,valves for cutting water off and on with respect to said bundles,valve-controlled means for permitting the liquid refrigerant to bedisplaced from one evaporator shell into the other, a conduit connectingsaid shells above the normal liquid level therein with that part of therefrigeration system in which the refrigerant is in hot compressed gasphase, means whereby the hot compressed gas can be admitted into eithershell and excluded from the other for displacing the liquid refrigerantfrom one to the other and thawing the ice bond between the ice cores andwalls of the tubes of the bundle associated with the shell from whichthe liquid refrigerant has been displaced, the open lower ends of saidtubes permitting the ice to discharge gravitationally from said tubes,the thawing and discharge from One tube bundle taking place during thefreezing period of the other tube bundle whereby the production of iceunits is substantially continuous.

BENJAMIN F. KUBAUGH.

